Edited by Marian Cleary

Caroline Cardus text art

There is a week to go for artists to submit applications for Shape Arts' Adam Reynolds Memorial Bursary. Submissions close on 8 May 2012.

The bursary offers space, time and financial support within a framework of constructive and creative critical dialogue, but without the pressue to produce a particular art work or outcome. As well as £5,000, the award also includes a residency at Camden Arts Centre from 6th August to 5th November 2012 where the recipient will be able to gain invaluable advice from curators and the use of the centre's exhibition spaces and resources.

This will be the fifth year the bursary has been granted. The previous four winners were Noemi Lakmaier, Sally Booth, Aaron Williamson and Caroline Cardus.

The eligibility criteria are broad: "The bursary is open to mid-career artists who are disabled or deaf and work in the field of contemporary fine arts, for example: photography, painting, drawing, print-making, installation, sculpture, film, video, digital, performance, sound or live art. Applications are welcomed both from artists who work within a disability or deaf-arts context, and from those whose practice is unrelated to the experience of being a disabled or deaf person."

Adam Reynolds who is celebrated through this bursary was a curator, artists’ advocate, advisor, trainer, mentor and speaker, but first and foremost, a successful and influential sculptor who worked in a range of materials.

While active in the disability-arts sector, Adam always maintained a broad perspective, hence the wide eligibility criteria. He served on the Board of Shape as Chair (1990-97), on the Arts Council’s art panel (1989-94) and as a Trustee of Chisenhale Gallery (1991-2000).

You can download further details about the bursary and how to apply from the Shape Arts website http://www.shapearts.org.uk where you can also read about the previous recipients and how they used the bursary funding.